Work Text:
Betty
Today, I wake up before the crack of dawn, like I always did, to do my morning routine. I put together an outfit with a light-pink color scheme in mind and then sit at my vanity to apply some light makeup for school.
Why go through so much effort when he won't notice you? Archie never does.
The lingering voice in my subconscious can be quiet brutal and blunt when it wants to be. But I know it's right. He only has eyes for Veronica and it's been that way for the past couple of years they've been dating. Yet somehow, I always find myself waking up extra early to try and look my best, for him.
But all he has ever seen in me is his childhood best friend and I've come to accept it over time. I mean, Archie is in a relationship with one of Riverdale High's most glorified 'it' girls, so there was no other choice but to accept defeat when Archie told me that Veronica Lodge was his girlfriend.
They've been dating since freshman year and now we are starting our junior year. Archie and me are still best friends, but our relationship has shifted over the years. We are not as close as we used to be. We were once inseparable, but naturally, I've taken a backseat in Archie's list of priorities.
He used to call me every night, and now I'll be lucky if he even remembers my house landline. I walk to school alone now too ever since Archie got a car and picks Veronica up before school. He did offer to give me a ride, but I kindly rejected, refusing to do any unnecessary third-wheeling.
"Earth to Cooper!" A sharp voice capture my attention and my gaze snap to bedroom door. The soft and warm smile of my second best friend greeted me as he leaned against my door frame.
"Kev! Hi!" I greeted him as I wrap my arms around him. "Good morning" I chirp with an easy smile as I pull away.
"Daydreaming about ginger boy again?" He teased grinning down at me as I rolled my eyes.
"Of course not! I told you I'm over it" I lied as I grab my school bag while he gives me his knowing smile.
"Uh-huh. I'm suppose to believe that, right? I totally bought it" He retorts sarcastically as I sigh irritably.
"Well we're suppose to start faking dating today, so yes, quit teasing me. You're suppose to be a little bit more supportive given that you're my boyfriend" I tell him as he takes the bag from my arms and guides us back downstairs.
"Morning, Elizabeth. Will you not be having any breakfast today?" My mother asks she notices Kevin and me making our way to the front door.
"First day jitters. I can't stomach anything, Mother. Thank you" I apologize as she shakes her head disapprovingly but lets me go nonetheless.
"Fake boyfriend" Kev whispers in my ear as we walk down my front porch.
"Well, duh, Kev. But you need your dad off your back and I need my mother off of mine. " I remind him as he nods his head.
"Moose is okay with this, right?" I whisper back and start walking past Archie's house.
"Of course. He's in the football team. No one suspects a thing. No rumors. Girls are all over him at all times. For all the world knows, Moose is a womanizer" Kevin assures me with a teasing smile.
"But since I'm a junior and a theater kid, my father has been pestering me on meeting my girlfriend" Kevin frowns looking down at me as I offer him a sad smile.
"One day, you'll be able to love him freely and openly, Kev. Until then, I'll be the best fake girlfriend you could ask for" I comforted him rubbing a hand on his back.
He smiles sadly before grabbing my hand in his. "Thank you, Betty. For everything" He mumbles kissing my knuckles.
I remember the day Kevin came out to me. We were sitting in park bench, talking about impossible loves, and then he just said it. "I'm in love with a boy" he mumbles as tears stained his cheeks. But a part of me had always known that. But I was honored that he trusted me enough to confide in me. I comforted him and then we cried together for hours on end.
Flashforward to almost three years later, we are now moving on with the whole faking dating, to keep Kevin's father suspicions at bay. And since my mother loves Kevin, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.
"Hey guys!" Archie's friendly voice greeted from a distance and we turned our bodies towards his voice.
"Hi, Arch!" I greeted first as he moved towards us smoothly. His eyes lingering on Kev's hand clasped on mine. He fidgeted with his cars keys as his gaze wandered back to us.
"First day of Junior year. It's crazy, right?" He added as we nodded our heads in agreement.
"I can't believe it. Soon enough, we will be headed off to college" I tell him as Kevin chuckles from my side.
"Of course you're thinking about college already, Betty" He teases pulling me against his side and I could feel Archie's curious stare wander back and forth between us.
"Since you are already here, we wanted to tell you something." Kevin initiates our thoroughly thought-out plan.
"Oh, yeah?" Archie encourages crossing his arms over his chest and looks down at me expectantly.
"We are dating. Officially." I announce with the widest smile I could muster while leaning my head against Kevin's shoulder. I could feel his lips at the top of my head as tender gesture.
"We wanted to wait and tell the whole group during lunch but I guess we can now have you in our corner" Kevin lies as he wraps an arm around me lazily while Archie just blinks blankly.
"Wow! I-I wasn't expecting that at all." Archie stumbles over his words as he looks towards us incredulously. Almost in disbelief.
"Well, we've been friends our whole lives. It was bound to happen at some point." Kev teases softly as Archie just stands there unmoving.
"I mean, look at her, she is absolutely beautiful. Tell me how not to fall in love with her?" Kevin over-embellishes to get his point across as he caresses one of my cheeks.
"I can't believe it. I didn't know you two felt that way about each other" Archie chuckle awkwardly looking down at me for confirmation in the matter.
"Well I didn't think Kevin liked me in that way. But one thing led to another and I guess we now have definitive answer" I bat my eyelashes up at him, feigning being lovestruck and praying Archie would buy it.
Before I could think about what Kevin did next, I felt his hesitant lips graze mine for half a second before pulling away. I would've missed it ever happening if I'd blinked but I didn't.
"Uh-well-umm-I'm-I'm happy for the two of you. I have to pick up Roonie for school but I'll see you there. Congrats guys." Archie tells us jiggling his keys in front of him for emphasis.
"See you at school" Kevin confirmed turning us around but I couldn't help let my gaze linger on Archie like it always did. But this time, unlike the times before, his gaze lingered on me too. I offered him a small smile in return and he simply waved weakly at the gesture.
Once we were both a good distance from the Andrews residence, "Do you think he bought it?" I asked nervously looking up at Kevin for reassurance.
"I don't know Betty. He looked too shellshocked to me. I don't know if he even processed what we told him." He admitted as I pout for his lack of easing my nerves.
"Well, he was caught off guard. He didn't expect us to suddenly become a couple" I reasoned as he shrugged "Let's just hope we have better luck with everyone else" He encourages and I nod my head in agreement as we continued walking down the familiar path that would lead us to school.
***
Announcing the new status of our 'relationship' to the rest of the group went a lot more smoother then it had been with Archie. Everyone seemed entirely convinced and ecstatic over our blooming love.
"I just knew it. It all makes sense now. You never flirted with other girls. Never asked them to dances. Never even glanced their way." Veronica reasoned snapping her fingers in 'realization'.
"All this time, you were pinning after Betty." She concluded leaning her head against Archie's chest with a light laugh as Kevin chuckled nervously beside me.
"I saw it coming ages ago, over the years the two of you have grown inseparable. We were just waiting for your love confession" Tabitha encouraged with soft smile looking over at Jughead with lovestruck eyes and his longing gaze matched hers.
Unfortunately, Jughead and Tabitha can't openly love each other either.
Isn't funny how love is free yet also so slim? We can never truly love who we want. I see some many of friends suffering in silence and it infuriates me to see the poets of the world selling us a bunch of unattainable ideals about love.
Love is subjective and is far from free. Oftentimes, you don't get a choice in the matter.
"Well thank you guys for the support. It means a lot to us" I tell them as they all smile reassuringly.
"Now we can go on double-dates!" Veronica squealed happily tugging at Archie's arms excitedly. I laugh nervously but didn't verbal replied to her comment.
"What did your parents say? I'm sure your mother was over the moon about the news" Toni asked me as I bit my lower lip nervously.
"I haven't told her yet." I admitted as all the girls gasped in shock. "It's just that he's my first boyfriend so I'm nervous" I lied quickly after they horrified reactions.
"How about you, Kev?" Archie perked curiously and Kev tenses beside me. "I've talked to him about my girlfriend but haven't specified that it is Betty. I've been waiting for my lovely girlfriend to be ready" He explains coolly while placing a lingering kiss on my cheek.
I blush at the the affectionate gesture and all the girls cooed happily. "You're making Betty blush, you two are too adorable" Veronica commented with a innocent grin as I offer them a shy smile.
"I hate to cut your gushing short, but I actually need to meet up with Mr. Nelson to discuss our last math exam. I am almost certain he made an error in one of the questions and I need him to clarify" I excuse myself grabbing my bag from the bench table. Kev gentle holds me hand kisses it whispering a small goodbye while I smiled down at him.
"I'll walk with you, we have his class in ten minutes anyways" Archie offered as he pecks Veronica's lips bidding her goodbye before I could object.
We walk side by side silently for a while until he spoke up, "when did it start?" He asked softly as he fixed his gaze on me. I kept my eyes in front of me as I replied.
"Well we've been friends since childhood, Arch. I guess you could say it started before either one of us were even aware it was happening" I lied fidgeting with my hands anxiously and confessing what I hope I had the courage to say to him years ago.
"Betty, can you please just slow down and talk to me?" Archie begged reaching for my arm and tugging me back. I sigh irritably as he turns me to face him.
"Talk to you about what?" I narrow my eyes at him. "You dating Keller" Archie reasons as I roll my eyes. "Is it that impossible to believe someone actually likes me, Archibald!" I snap angrily glancing up at him as his eyes widen involuntarily at my sharp tone.
"Of course not, Betts. It just seems out of the blue" He justifies trying to reach for me again but I flinch away from his touch.
"It isn't!! You've simply been too distracted to notice. We love each other, okay? What's your issue?" I challenged as his eyes soften at my words.
"You love him?" He mumbled weakly and his eyes showed a vulnerability I've never seen before.
"Of course, I love him. Why wouldn't I?" I snap back rolling my eyes. "He has helped me through a lot. He's been there for me unconditionally" I tell him in a softer tone looking away from him as I said so.
"That doesn't mean you have to feel obliged to date him, Betty" He reasons lifting my chin as I roll my eyes irritably at his statement. "Seriously? You think I'm so gullible that I fall for the first idiot who asks me out?" I seethe angrily as he shakes his head.
"And I will not tolerate you accusing Kevin of taking advantage of me. In fact, I forbid you from talking about Kevin at all if you are going to accuse him of anything less than the gentleman he has always been not only to me but to others." I spit angrily narrowing my eyes at him.
"You forbid me from stating what is so incredibly obvious? I'm just trying to look out for you" He argues as his eyes glare down at me now looking exasperated.
"Oh, wow! So now you care for me?" I sass chuckling dryly taking a could steps away from him.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" He called after me angrily as he yanks my arm back.
"Archie, tell me you are joking." I deadpan glaring up at him challenging.
"No. I want you to explain what you mean by that" He snaps angrily.
"I mean that you barely acknowledge me, even though we live next door to each other. You only care about my whereabouts when you need something from me. You only ever call me when you need my help with your stupid homework." I finally confess my bottled-up resentment towards my deteriorating friendship.
"And we both know that over the past years, we have come to be nothing short of strangers. We are not best friends anymore, Archie." I tell him as his sad eyes narrows at me.
"In fact, I don't think we're even friends at all" I confess with a unmistakable sadness as I meet his eyes again.
He frowns deeply, "we ARE friends, Betts." He insists looking down at me defeatedly as I scoff in response.
"Please, Archie. Try sounding a little more convince about what you are saying" I sassed bitterly biting the inside of my cheeks angrily.
"We've been best friends since we were four, Betty. So, yes, I am very damn sure we are best friends" He declares without hesitation as I shake my head in disagreement.
"But you're wrong, Archie. Look, I don't want to fight with you. We have a good routine going. But just a heads-up, next time you call about homework, I may be too busy to pick up" I inform him calmly and then I turn on my heels not bothering to wait for his response.
Damn, it felt good to finally be truthful for a change. Always having to tippy-toe around our issues.
***
Four months later.
Kev and I have settled into a comfortable routine; and our friends have stopped teasing us for keeping PG-13. Or at least for the most part.
"You're a prude, cousin. I just want you to give your BOYFRIEND a decent kiss" Cheryl challenged as we all sat in her living room while drinking beers and playing games.
"One soul-crushing and orgasm inducing kiss" Cheryl insists as I roll my eyes from beside Kevin.
The room was silent, but the poorly concealed chuckles could be heard clear as day.
"Screw you, Cheryl" I hissed leaning back against Kevin's arm and he just laughs lightly kissing my forehead.
"Stop taunting her, Cheryl." Veronica rolled her eyes playfully as she snuggles closer to Archie, kissing his temple.
"If you want a show, I'll give you one and rest assured, it will be very orgasm inducing" Veronica teases while smirking down at Archie and sensually running her tongue over Archie's lips.
I diverted my eyes, squirming uncomfortably at the PDA displayed by the couple sitting in front of me. "Ronnie" Archie stopped her chuckling awkwardly.
"Oh come on, lover. Betty may be a prude but we sure as hell are not" Veronica laughs back as I narrow my eyes at her snarky comment.
"Just because I don't like sucking faces out of proper decency doesn't mean I am a prude" I snapped defensively pouting out of frustration.
"Whatever you say, virgin Betty" Cheryl jokes with a sly smirk driving over the edge.
"That's it! Kevin, take me home!" I demand standing up and dusting my skirt off as he stands up quickly.
"Yep, you got it, babe." He smiles as everyone bursts out laughing.
"Come on, Betty. Don't take yourself too seriously. We're just teasing" Toni speaks up as I roll my eyes irritably.
"And I've told you about a dozen times just how uncomfortable it makes me when you guys mock my intimate life. So, now I'm leaving. Good night" I bark back angrily as Kevin follows me out.
"Hey, wait up!" I heard the familiar voice of my neighbor call out after us.
"Just ignore him and walk faster" I mumble trying to tug him forward but Kev simply just slowed down. "I hate you" I growl irritably as he pulls us both to a stop.
"What's up, man?" Kevin asks as we come face to face with Archie. "Well it's getting pretty late and my dad hates it when I miss curfew. I'm going home now. Well, I am walking home since my car is still in repair." Archie tells us and Kevin looks down at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
I silently beg him not to do what he did next, " I would really appreciate it if you could walk my girlfriend home. I broke my curfew about an hour ago and I know that you will make sure that Betty gets home safely" Kevin asks him as I glare up at him.
"You already broke your curfew, can't you walk me home?" I snap obviously irritated.
"If you want to have a boyfriend tomorrow, I need to get home sooner rather than later" He teases grabbing my hands in his as I roll my eyes at his gesture. He kisses my knuckles as a sign of affection. It was our way of avoiding having to do more couple like gestures.
"I do want a boyfriend, so go on." I sigh caressing and kissing his right cheek while playfully pushing him in the direction of where his house was, which was in the opposite direction of mine.
"Thank you, lover" He teased me knowing just how much I truly hated that pet name. More specifically, Veronica's pet name for Archie.
"Oh shut up and get home." I roll my eyes at him smacking his arm as he whines at my aggression. He laughs lightly as he salutes me and thanks Archie as he walks away from us.
"Shall we go now?" Archie asks me as I cross my arms over my chest feeling the cool night breeze without Kev glued by my side. A run chill ran down my spine feeling the cold spread through my body.
I walked ahead of him without a word to gesture that I was walking home. "Here" Archie offered as he carefully placed his varsity jacket on my slimmer frame. It's warmth felt comforting against my cold shoulders.
I shrug it off, handing the jacket back to him, "You don't need to do that" keeping my arm stretch out for him to take it back. "Stop being so stubborn and just take it" Archie huffs irritably looking down at me.
After a while of our challenging glare, hoping one of us would break, I sigh before properly wrapping myself around his jacket. "It's been months, Betts. Can we just please call a truce?" He begs after a while of deafening silence.
"I want to be friends" Archie tells me "best friends" he rephrases as he tugs me back to a stop.
"Archie, I don't want to do this right now." I sigh yanking my arm back from his grip.
"But I do. I'm tired of you avoiding me like a plague" He counters as he reaches out for me again.
"Fine. I'll do the truce. Happy?" I tell him as he shakes his head. "No, I am not happy, I want you back, Betty." He confesses as I widen my eyes in shock.
"You can't expect me to be at your back and call, Archie. I'm not avoiding you, I just have a life now" I lie to him diverting my gaze from him.
"A life that no longer revolves around you. But that does not mean that I am avoiding you. I'm sorry you feel like I am, but I have a boyfriend now and he is more important" I tell him staring down the street as we walk casually.
"Boyfriend? Really, Betty? Come on" He laughs dryly as if I just told him a joke.
"What's so funny? Yes, my boyfriend" I hissed looking over at him.
"Kevin is not your boyfriend and you know it" He states bluntly as I gasp in disbelief at his words.
"Excuse you?" I exclaim visibly offended. "You guys hold hands like kindergartens. Anyone with common sense knows your relationship is fake." He tells me as I narrow my eyes angrily at him.
"You don't get to define my relationship because you want me to be your sad and pathetic puppy" I growl angrily shoving him back with as much force as I could muster and stomping forward.
"Kevin is gay!" Archie growled back at me rather loudly as I turn around at lightning speed while slapping a hand over his mouth.
"Shut up! Shut up!" I hissed angrily as he glares down at me. " Are you trying to jeopardize him? Someone can hear you. You know his father is overly conservative, Archie!" I whisper-yell in disbelief adding a painful amount of pressure over his mouth.
He hisses back before gripping my wrist and pulling my hand away. "I'm sorry but it's true and it is as clear as day. Any guy dating you wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of you. Trust me" He mumbles as his breath fans mine at the close proximity.
I cautiously take a couple steps back from him just in case anyone misinterprets the innocent action, "Not all men are pigs" I retort defensively as he chuckles lightly.
"But they are horny" He replies calmly staring into my eyes. I blink back at his bold choice of words.
"I-I am satisfied, okay? He-he satisfies me. And that is all you need to know" I stutter to find the right words to imply Kevin and I were 'intimate'.
"Really? He satisfies you? How so?" He asks bluntly as we finally approach our houses.
"Uh-I'm-I am not talking about my intimacy with you, Archie" I scold as my cheeks taint a bright red color.
"And it's rather invasive and inappropriate for you to ask me that" I conclude sternly narrowing my eyes at him and her offers me a sly grin.
"I'm asking because you're lying" He replies as he pulls me towards his backyard.
I roll my eyes as he drags me over to his childhood treehouse. "I am not lying to you, and stop making me uncomfortable" I demand crossing my arms protectively around me.
"Ok, I'll drop it, if you can tell me what he did to make you cum" He mumbles casually as he leans his body closer to me, forcing my back against the tree trunk.
I stare at him blankly, having absolutely zero clue what he was asking of me. He must have noticed my puzzlement because he grins softly at me, satisfied by my silence.
"I know when you lie to me, Betts. And you are still you, no matter how hard you try to act otherwise" He mumbles out as he whispers, softly tickling my ear. I shiver involuntarily at the innocent gesture but I could feel his lips turn upwards as they graze my ear.
Was he smirking?
"What is that suppose to mean?" I bark weakly. "If he really satisfies you, you wouldn't be looking at me as cluelessly as you are. So innocently with those big green eyes of yours" He taunts me chuckling lowly.
I scoff in offense, trying to move around him but he traps me with his arms on either side of my head. "Just admit it, Betty. It's fake" He urges as I try to squirm out from underneath him but he presses his body tightly against mine to keep me in place.
"Archie" I gasp at the lack of personal space between us. "Move!" I demand moving against to try and pull away from him. I freeze up when I felt something slightly harden against my hipbone. My eyes widen at the contact. "Ar-archie..." I stutter as he pulls away from me immediately.
"Sorry" He apologizes diverting his gaze from mine. "It's fine, Arch. Just listen to me, okay?" I urge him knowing that my curfew was nearing.
"You can't tell anyone about me and Kev. The relationship with his father is improving and they are in a better place now. So, you-you can't tell anyone." I begged as he looks down at me with softer eyes.
"Tell people what?" He asks me as I sigh in response. He wanted me to verbalize it just to humiliate me further.
"We are fake dating" I confess looking down at my feet and I could feel Archie's hand on my shoulders.
"I need to do this for him, Archie. It's bad enough that he can't love who he wants. And he shouldn't have to love in the dark, it isn't fair, but it is sadly the only way he can love" I tell him angrily.
"So, please, please, please keep this to yourself" I beg grabbing his hands in mine.
"He deserves to love and I can give him that" I explain to him as he smiles sadly at me.
"And what about you?" He asks softly. I shrug lazily, "I'm leaving this cursed town after high school. I'll leave and never look back. But I can do this for Kevin until then" I tell him as he shakes his head.
"Stop saying that" He growls diverting his gaze from me. "Uh-wh-what? Say what?" I asked puzzledly.
"that you're leaving Riverdale." He scolds angrily as I look up at him. "that you're leaving me" He rephrases with a deep frown as purse my lips shut.
"We are oceans apart, Archie" I tell him but he argues "I don't want to be, Betts." He whispers softly.
"And I don't want to love you in the dark anymore" I mumble barely above a whisper.
"Wh-what?" He stutters taking a step back in shock. "I've loved you my entire life, Archie. But after we graduate, I need to move on." I tell him weakly as I let go of his hands.
"I've romanticize the idea of us for so long. But I want to be able to love you without it hurting me that way it hurts me now" I add truthfully as he reaches out to me for comfort.
"So, can you just accept the fact that we need to be oceans apart, that I need to learn to love you differently than I have loved you since we were four" I beg him desperately as he look down at me with his soft brown eyes simply silently trying to read my face.
"Say something, Archie" I snapped impatiently as he blinks back rapidly. I feel his lips on me before I could even process what he was doing. His lips on me so passionately that it nearly knocked the air of my lungs. His lips trying to tell me what he was probably too afraid to say verbally.
After he pulled away, we were both panting completely out of breath. "Was that good enough for you?" He mumbles leaning his forehead against mine. "I don't know, Archie" I admit through my tingling lips before sighing.
"And please do not kiss me again until you can tell me how you feel" I beg him as I make my way towards my house.
I am definitely pass my curfew and my mother is going to kill me.
"I love you, Betty." He calls after me making my halt. "I've known it for a very long time. I don't want you to leave me, Betts. I don't know how to live without you and I don't ever want to" He tells me as he stands in front of me again.
"I love you so much, and I'm sorry I let my fear speak instead of my heart" He adds as he grabs my face in his hands gently.
"A heart that has always been yours" He finishes as he leans down and kisses me softly, tenderly.
"I love you. But I'm still gonna need to fake date Kevin" I tease him with a light chuckle.
"Of course you do, Betty Cooper" I grins down at me as he chuckles lightly.
"I'm gonna have to love you in the dark a little longer" I joked as he pecks my lips pulling me against him.
"As long as we are not oceans apart" He assures me as I smile softly up at him.
"No, just one call away" I tease looking back at my house.
"I need to go because my mother is surely to kill me now" I remind him as I glance down at his watch.
"Meet me at your window?" He asks me hopeful and I nod my head.
"It's a date, Andrews" I smiled up at up and places a lingering kiss on me before I walk up my porch and let his figure disappear behind me.
The end